Kalaupapa EarthCache
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Drive north on Hwy 470 to the end of the road in Pala'au State Park. The trail to Kalaupapa Overlook is clearly marked.
The island of Moloka’i was formed more than 1.9 million years ago when the West Moloka’i volcano (Mauna Loa) first surfaced. In time, the volcano moved westward from over the Hawaiian hotspot and the East Moloka’i volcano (Kamakou) formed the eastern portion of the island. Like the other Hawaiian Islands, Moloka’i slowly moved westward and began to settle into the ocean. About 400,000 years ago, the northern portion of the east half of the island slid into the ocean. The remnants of this gigantic landslide cover the ocean floor for nearly 100 miles to the north. Sheer cliffs remain today on the northeast side of Moloka’i.
About 300,000 years ago, long after Mauna Loa and Kamakou had become extinct, a small shield volcano erupted on the northern side of the island. This volcano, Pu’u ‘Uao formed the flat, triangular area known as Kalaupapa (“flat leaf” in Hawaiian). From the lookout point, the crater Kauhako is easily seen to the right at the center of Pu’u ‘Uao. If you look very carefully along the ridge that runs north from the Kauhako Crater toward the lighthouse, you will see the edge of an ancient lava tube (now a lava channel). The diameter of Kauhako Crater is 400 m or ¼ mile. The lava channel does not extend as far as the lighthouse.
To log this earthcache, please do he following and send the answers by email. DO NOT POST the answers in the log. Following verification of the correct answers, permission to log will be given.
1. Estimate the length of the lava channel, given that the diameter of the Kauhako Crater is 400 m or ¼ mile.
2. Send the first line on the metal sign that is at the coordinate points
3. Send a picture of you at the lookout with Kaluapapa in the background.
The lava channel is of peculiar interest to astrogeologists. For extra credit, please answer the following:
4. The lava channel appears to be very similar to long, winding valleys with steep walls (known as “sinuous rilles”) on what celestial body?
References:
1. Geology of the State of Hawaii, Harold T. Stearns, Pacific Book Publishers (May 1985).
2. Roadside Geology of Hawaii, Richard W. Hazlett and Donald W. Hyndman, Mountain Press Publishing Co. (1996).
3. Kauhako Crater and Channel, Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii: A Terrestial Analog to Lunar Sinuous Rilles, Cassandra R. Coombs and Bernard Ray Hawke, Preoceedings of Twentieth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, no 1095 (1989)
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